Yeah, I believe according to Apple, the Mac Mini is a computer that they will not upgrade, and they have in the manual that the user is not suppose to upgrade the computer on their own. So if you do upgrade, I think it basically voids your warranty? I am not completely sure on that one.
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The Cons of Mac Mini?
- Thread starter BlindSoul
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The RAM and the Harddrive are upgradeable. The max RAM is 8GB and any 2.5" HDD will work. I believe the Apple store will upgrade it but I don't have one in my area so I'm not sure. Most mac friendly computer shops will also do the upgrades, too, if you don't want to do them yourself. If you do, there's plenty of tutorials on the web with solid instructions.
As I said, I'm not sure if the Apple store will do it, but it won't void your warranty to upgrade yourself as long as you don't break anything while working in the box.
As with any desktop running laptop parts, some serious price-to-performance sacrifices have been made in the name of the compact size. In laptops those parts serve the extra function of reducing energy use to increase battery life... but there's no battery in the Mac Mini.
Honestly the CPU, GPU, and RAM configurations aren't that bad when they are fresh in their product cycle. Where the performance is really bottlenecked is the DRIVES. They should have included desktop form factor hard drive and optical drive. They would be MUCH faster, and the hard drive would be bigger and cheaper per GB. For example, the burner in the Mac Mini (or any laptop disk burner) will take you about 10 minutes or so to burn a full CD. A modern desktop burner would take about 3 minutes.
Honestly the CPU, GPU, and RAM configurations aren't that bad when they are fresh in their product cycle. Where the performance is really bottlenecked is the DRIVES. They should have included desktop form factor hard drive and optical drive. They would be MUCH faster, and the hard drive would be bigger and cheaper per GB. For example, the burner in the Mac Mini (or any laptop disk burner) will take you about 10 minutes or so to burn a full CD. A modern desktop burner would take about 3 minutes.
I had a question.
I'm living in Israel and whenever they plan to release the new Mac Minis my uncle might buy it for me in the US And will bring it to here when he comes to visit. Now i've been wondering if i will have my warranty in Israel too. Does anyone know how it works?
Thank you!
I'm living in Israel and whenever they plan to release the new Mac Minis my uncle might buy it for me in the US And will bring it to here when he comes to visit. Now i've been wondering if i will have my warranty in Israel too. Does anyone know how it works?
Thank you!
I just did.
Have the 2.26ghz.
Running Leopard, not snow leopard yet.
My only complaint is that the video card is still not quite great enough.
Memory helps but handling a lot of video/photos is taxing.
Love the thing, though.
I have an Apple reseller store (not Bestbuy, a private computer store) and they'll do any upgrades I want done...
Count me in as one that is hesitant to take the case apart~(I've upgraded RAM on my PC twice and replaced the power supply just because it was easy)~I know I could use more RAM (when I got mine in 06 I upgraded to a whole Gig from the 512 standard
)...still though my pages in/out are good and I don't get beachballs unless I'm running more than 3 apps + safari + streaming music...which doesn't happen often--don't use mine as hard as most.
Count me in as one that is hesitant to take the case apart~(I've upgraded RAM on my PC twice and replaced the power supply just because it was easy)~I know I could use more RAM (when I got mine in 06 I upgraded to a whole Gig from the 512 standard
)...still though my pages in/out are good and I don't get beachballs unless I'm running more than 3 apps + safari + streaming music...which doesn't happen often--don't use mine as hard as most.Mac Mini is a GEM!
I bought my Mac Mini back in December 09, essentially as a stop-gap had-to-have-something-NOW measure while waiting for the 27" i7 iMac supply to catch up with demand. I live in Hawaii so I was limited to whatever was in-stock at the Best Buy retail store closest to me. A 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo Mini with 160GB HD and 2GB of DDR3 1067MHz RAM.
Ultimately I was holding out for an optioned out Mac Pro, but I've been turning blue holding my breath for the all-too-long awaited 32nm hexacore CPU update that should have happened by April.... In a nutshell barely retaining my sanity playing the waiting game for my "dream" product refreshes to happen.
Being somewhat of a high-end model enthusiast, I didnt expect to be overwhelmed by the Minis performance. I just needed something to get me by due to the unexpected loss of my MacBook Pro. But within an hour of opening the Mini's box something truly remarkable, genuinely wonderful happened. I was having a record-breaking amount of sheer, unadulterated FUN with my new purchase.
I recall back in 1984 breathlessly awaiting the arrival and delivery of an early-release first generation Macintosh. I lack the words to adequately describe how much raw fun factor I had in using that computer out of the box, and that feeling did not diminish in the slightest for months (over a year) afterwards. I've had countless other machines (Macs and Windows PCs) since then, but none of them came close to the laugh out loud fun factor I experienced with that first gen Mac. Until now, with the purchase of my little beloved Mac Mini.
I couldnt put my finger on it at first, but later realized all my other machines were either extensively modded or self-assembled high performance rigs. The Mac Mini, like the original 1984 Macintosh, was a factory sealed fixed configuration affair that weaved a magical "happiness" spell on me. Without the distractions of "how many ways can you take it apart, re-configure, and re-engineer it", all there was to do was unpack it, plug in a few cables, and immediately start having FUN with everything it can do, right out of the box. I was stunned, amazed, and very, very happy with my purchase decision.
While at Best Buy that fateful day last December, I also bought 2 Samsung SyncMaster XL2370 23" LED monitors (full 1080p HD) for use with my Mac Mini. All three components were the essence of true plug and play. The Mac Mini runs both monitors (in extended desktop mode) BEAUTIFULLY right out of the box. No muss, no fuss. On paper the video subsystem specs looked kind of anemic. But in real life the Mini produces fantastic results and stunning visuals on dual monitors immediately. None of the hair-pulling time-consuming ordeals of downloading and matching drivers. In less than 5 minutes everything was up and running, and I was grinning like a kid in a candy store.
I was expecting to be underwhelmed with its computing performance. Instead I was pleasantly surprised. Overwhelmed, actually, to experience this level of fun factor and bang-for-the-buck value with its elegant simplicity of design. The fixed, nicely balanced configuration has a very rare synergy to it. The only cons I can think of are related to its lack of expandability. An eSATA port and access door to be able to install more RAM would be all I would change to its design. Otherwise it has a lot more going for it than specs (or other reviews) would suggest. Most importantly, I've had more FUN with it than with any other computer Ive had in 25 years.
IMHO, take the plunge. Its more than worth it!
I bought my Mac Mini back in December 09, essentially as a stop-gap had-to-have-something-NOW measure while waiting for the 27" i7 iMac supply to catch up with demand. I live in Hawaii so I was limited to whatever was in-stock at the Best Buy retail store closest to me. A 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo Mini with 160GB HD and 2GB of DDR3 1067MHz RAM.
Ultimately I was holding out for an optioned out Mac Pro, but I've been turning blue holding my breath for the all-too-long awaited 32nm hexacore CPU update that should have happened by April.... In a nutshell barely retaining my sanity playing the waiting game for my "dream" product refreshes to happen.
Being somewhat of a high-end model enthusiast, I didnt expect to be overwhelmed by the Minis performance. I just needed something to get me by due to the unexpected loss of my MacBook Pro. But within an hour of opening the Mini's box something truly remarkable, genuinely wonderful happened. I was having a record-breaking amount of sheer, unadulterated FUN with my new purchase.
I recall back in 1984 breathlessly awaiting the arrival and delivery of an early-release first generation Macintosh. I lack the words to adequately describe how much raw fun factor I had in using that computer out of the box, and that feeling did not diminish in the slightest for months (over a year) afterwards. I've had countless other machines (Macs and Windows PCs) since then, but none of them came close to the laugh out loud fun factor I experienced with that first gen Mac. Until now, with the purchase of my little beloved Mac Mini.
I couldnt put my finger on it at first, but later realized all my other machines were either extensively modded or self-assembled high performance rigs. The Mac Mini, like the original 1984 Macintosh, was a factory sealed fixed configuration affair that weaved a magical "happiness" spell on me. Without the distractions of "how many ways can you take it apart, re-configure, and re-engineer it", all there was to do was unpack it, plug in a few cables, and immediately start having FUN with everything it can do, right out of the box. I was stunned, amazed, and very, very happy with my purchase decision.
While at Best Buy that fateful day last December, I also bought 2 Samsung SyncMaster XL2370 23" LED monitors (full 1080p HD) for use with my Mac Mini. All three components were the essence of true plug and play. The Mac Mini runs both monitors (in extended desktop mode) BEAUTIFULLY right out of the box. No muss, no fuss. On paper the video subsystem specs looked kind of anemic. But in real life the Mini produces fantastic results and stunning visuals on dual monitors immediately. None of the hair-pulling time-consuming ordeals of downloading and matching drivers. In less than 5 minutes everything was up and running, and I was grinning like a kid in a candy store.
I was expecting to be underwhelmed with its computing performance. Instead I was pleasantly surprised. Overwhelmed, actually, to experience this level of fun factor and bang-for-the-buck value with its elegant simplicity of design. The fixed, nicely balanced configuration has a very rare synergy to it. The only cons I can think of are related to its lack of expandability. An eSATA port and access door to be able to install more RAM would be all I would change to its design. Otherwise it has a lot more going for it than specs (or other reviews) would suggest. Most importantly, I've had more FUN with it than with any other computer Ive had in 25 years.
IMHO, take the plunge. Its more than worth it!
Mid 2009 Mini for me
4GB Ram, 2.0 CPU, internal 128SSD
External 500 GB SATA HDD
Gateway 22" LCD HD
I love mine, it is great for web, email, photos, etc, even some gaming, I have a Windows XP SP3 Boot Camp loaded for the times I need to use Windows.
I must say maxin the ram to 4GB is well worth it, but after replacing the internal HDD with a SSD 128 this thing is well super fast.
The weakest part of the mini is the integrated 9400M GPU but it is really not that bad, however the take apart to replace things is a little tricky, but not bad.
4GB Ram, 2.0 CPU, internal 128SSD
External 500 GB SATA HDD
Gateway 22" LCD HD
I love mine, it is great for web, email, photos, etc, even some gaming, I have a Windows XP SP3 Boot Camp loaded for the times I need to use Windows.
I must say maxin the ram to 4GB is well worth it, but after replacing the internal HDD with a SSD 128 this thing is well super fast.
The weakest part of the mini is the integrated 9400M GPU but it is really not that bad, however the take apart to replace things is a little tricky, but not bad.
Just to clarify, do americans like best buy? Im British so i dont know much about it, but i've heard of it mentioned and I cant figure out whether you guys like it for buying apple macs or not?
Its popular because its ubiquitous, like Comet or Curry's or PCWorld (are any of those still around?).
I think a lot of Americans do, but I don't personally. One thing I don't particularly care about with Best Buy is that most of their prices are MSRP and you can do better online. As far as buying a Mac, my first choice would be an Apple Store (we don't have one locally), my second choice would be someplace online like Amazon or MacConnection, etc.
Mid 2009 Mini for me
4GB Ram, 2.0 CPU, internal 128SSD
External 500 GB SATA HDD
Gateway 22" LCD HD
I love mine, it is great for web, email, photos, etc, even some gaming, I have a Windows XP SP3 Boot Camp loaded for the times I need to use Windows.
I must say maxin the ram to 4GB is well worth it, but after replacing the internal HDD with a SSD 128 this thing is well super fast.
The weakest part of the mini is the integrated 9400M GPU but it is really not that bad, however the take apart to replace things is a little tricky, but not bad.
i'm in the same boat minus the ssd, and the RAM is a much needed upgrade but the only downfall to my mac mini is the slower processor at 2.0 GHz
The only thing I really would like upgraded in this machine is the ram, which I will do at some point. The HDD is pretty slow, too, but I'm not sure I want to go SSD just yet. The GPU isn't great, but for an integrated card it's better than a lot of cards you'll get in budget laptops and such. I can play Fallout 3 in Windows at medium settings, I can play WoW at ultra settings (but I play on lower settings for 60 fps), Half Life 2 on high, Portal on medium, it's capable. It's not going to play the most graphically intensive games, but if you have the urge to game on it, it's certainly not impossible.
Con for me is the use of laptop drives. They are so slow and so small.
I got a deal on a 1TB 3.5" drive and I installed it 'in' my mini (now the whole thing sits inside an old computer case) and it is much snappier and the room is great.
Another con is no i7 version. I would upgrade from my Core 2 Duo 2.0 if there was a new affordable i7 mini. The 2.6 isn't a big enough jump, and really my machine is still working fine so I guess I am actually glad they don't make one.
I got a deal on a 1TB 3.5" drive and I installed it 'in' my mini (now the whole thing sits inside an old computer case) and it is much snappier and the room is great.
Another con is no i7 version. I would upgrade from my Core 2 Duo 2.0 if there was a new affordable i7 mini. The 2.6 isn't a big enough jump, and really my machine is still working fine so I guess I am actually glad they don't make one.